Pharmacist

Pharmacist qualifications to look for

A pharmacist reviews and interprets physician orders to prepare medications. They not only  dispense medications by compounding, packaging, and labeling pharmaceuticals but also control medications by monitoring drug therapies and advising interventions.

When hiring pharmacists it’s crucial to pay attention to soft skills as much as experience. Pharmacists fill several responsibilities within a pharmacy setting, so it’s important to look at the volume of patients your facility sees daily and decide what level of experience you want candidates to have.

Your top hire pharmacist will hold a Graduate degree from an accredited pharmacy college recognized by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), with the completion of an emergency contraception training course approved by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). They must also have a valid state pharmacist license wherever applicable. 

Keep an eye out for candidates who can: 

• Analyzing information
• Administering medication
• Make sound judgment calls
• Maintain FDA health regulations
• Uphold Legal compliance
  

Top tip: Hire candidates willing to grow by making sure their personal career goals align with your company's mission.

Pharmacist interview questions

• What challenges do you encounter on a day-to-day basis? How do you stay calm under pressure? 
• How do you effectively communicate with health insurance companies?
• How do you ensure that combinations of medications are compatible? What do you look out for? 
• Describe a time you simplified complex medical information for a patient. How do you ensure patients understand their instructions? 
• How have you educated patients in managing their medication? Explain your process. 
• How would you rate yourself on spotting drug-seeking behavior in patients? What is your protocol for this? 
• Describe a time you went above and beyond to deliver excellent patient care. What were the situation and outcome? 
• What would you consider a clinically significant drug interaction? Describe a specific situation. 
• Describe a time you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem. What was the outcome and how did it help the patient? 
• How do you handle impatient or difficult patients? 
• What factors do you consider before dispensing prescription medicines to patients? What indicators do you look for that may raise red flags? 
• Describe your experience with immunizations. Do you perform them regularly?  
• What would you do if you caught a colleague stealing? What is the procedure to handle it?
• You’re about to end your shift and your coworker suddenly calls in sick. What do you do? 
• Recall a time you disagreed with your coworker. What was the situation and how did you handle it?
• How do you stay up-to-date with current pharmacy practices? What resources do you follow?